Writing-desk



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. H. GRIMSLEY AND P. J. ANKNEY, OF NEW LEXINGTON, OHIO.

WRITING-DESK.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 20,487, dated June 8, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH H. GRIMsLr. v and PERRY J. ANKNEY, of New Lexington, in the county of Perry and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful and I1nproved Mode of Constructing lriting Tables or Desks; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention consists in I )rcviding in the inside of the upper part or body of the table or desk two movable resting boards, which are raised and lowered by cords and pulleys on which boards the book or ledger is placed while being` written upon. The object or purpose of such raising or lowering is that the book or ledger may be kept perfectly level while the writer is writing` thereon, and the further object and purm pose of providing the means of writing at the top or bottom of the page of the book or ledger with ease and comfort to the writer.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

XVe construct the frame of the table or desk in any of the ordinary and known forms with sides and ends from five to eight inches deep with bottom. Across lengthwise. in front, is a resting board for the arm marked A, from seven to ten inches in width, or any width desired. Across the back or rear lengthwise is a board from four to six inches in width marked B. Across each end is a board marked C, C, of any desired width, or these boards may be dispensed with, and the aperture between the boards A and B and the ends of the frame, may be closed with a. lid if desired, as marked by hinges at D, D.

Even with the surface of boards A and B are eightpulleys, four of which are in each board marked E. Two movable resting boards marked F F of the length of the width of the interior or aperture, except so much shorter as to allow them to rise and lower without obstruction at the ends, are

placed in the interior of the body or aperture for the book or ledger to lie upon, leaving a. space of from one to three inches between the resting boards as mark-ed G.

To each end of each board marked F, F, are attached cords as marked H, H, which pass up' through grooves in boards marked F, F, to the pulleys above from thence down through grooves in resting boards to a roller under the bottom of the table or desk to which they are fastened (to the rollers). The rollers referred to, run from the front of the table or desk to the rear of the same directly under the center of the movable rest-ing boards F, F, to the ends in front of which are knobs marked J, J for the purpose of turning the same. and by that means of raising or lowering the movable resting boards, with the book or ledger lying thereon by the hand of the writer. To each knob is attached a catch or rag wheel to hold the rollers. with the movable resting boards and book thereon when t-he book or ledger is raised to the desired position or place for writing upon. Said catch or rag wheel is marked K K. The object and purpose of such raising and lowering is to make and keep the surface of the book o-r ledger level while being written upon, and to enable the writer thereon to reach the""top or bottom of the same with ease. To enable the writer to reach the top of the book or ledger he has but to draw the same down under the board A, and to reach the bottom of the same he has but to move it up under board B keeping the surface of the book always level, and the boards A and B protecting the book from soiling by the hand of the writer or otherwise.

What we claim as our invent-ion and wish to secure by Letters Patent is- The application to 0r construction of writing tables or desks in the manner substantially set forth and described.

J OS.4 H. GRIMSLEY. PERRY J. ANKNEY.

Attest:

CYRUS SPRINGER, L. F. MUzzY. 

